Navigating the competitive landscape of investment management can often lead to a challenging CV that struggles to stand out with clear, unique accomplishments. Our guide offers tailored strategies to refine your CV, ensuring it showcases your expertise and achievements in a manner that commands attention in the industry.
- Design and format your professional investment manager CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading investment manager CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your investment manager CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
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How complex should the format of your investment manager CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your investment manager CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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Use font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a investment manager CV
- Professional Summary highlights your investment expertise and achievements, making a strong first impression.
- Investment Management Experience showcases your relevant job history and successful portfolio management.
- Education and Qualifications demonstrate your foundation in financial theories and practices pertinent to investments.
- Key Investment Successes provide specific examples of how you've positively impacted portfolios or firms.
- Relevant Skills and Competencies highlight your ability to analyse markets, manage risks, and use financial tools.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your understanding of the financial markets and investment strategies, showcasing your successful portfolio management and decision-making processes that have led to tangible growth.
- Emphasise any qualifications relevant to an investment manager, such as a CFA charter, MBA with a finance specialisation, or equivalent, demonstrating your commitment to professional development and expertise.
- Illustrate your risk management capabilities by detailing specific instances where you identified, mitigated, or capitalised on financial risks, reflecting your ability to safeguard assets.
- Include evidence of strong analytical skills through examples of complex data interpretation, modelling, and forecasting, which are critical for informed investment decisions.
- Detail your leadership and team management experiences, as investment managers often oversee a team of analysts, so providing examples of successful team guidance and mentoring will bolster your CV.
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Making a good first impression with your investment manager CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for investment manager:
- Portfolio Manager | Equities Specialist | CFA Charterholder | 10 Years of Asset Management Experience
- Senior Investment Analyst | Fixed Income & Derivatives Expert | MSc Finance | 8+ Years' Industry Insight
- Chief Investment Officer | Strategic Asset Allocation | MBA | Fintech Enthusiast | 15+ Years Leadership
- Junior Investment Advisor | Graduate | Wealth Management & Client Relations | ACII Accredited
- Risk Manager | Quantitative Analysis Savvy | FRM Certified | 12 Years in Risk Oversight
- Director of Investment Strategy | Global Markets Experience | PhD Economics | 20 Years Portfolio Management
Your investment manager CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
investment manager candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you investment manager CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a investment manager job:
- With over 10 years of proven experience in asset management and a track record of delivering exceptional returns above market average, I continually maximise client portfolios through comprehensive market analysis, strategic asset allocation, and meticulous risk assessment.
- An accomplished investment professional with 15 years in the field, specialising in equities. Proficient in quantitative analysis and experienced in managing a £500 million portfolio with consistent outperformance of benchmarks, seeking to leverage expertise to drive financial success.
- Seasoned finance executive with two decades in corporate finance looking to transition into investment management, bringing strong analytical skills, experience in capital budgeting and investment strategies, and a successful history of managing a multimillion-pound budget.
- Eager to apply an extensive background in technology project management to investment management, incorporating adeptness in data analytics, robust leadership in coordinating cross-functional teams, and a passion for financial markets and portfolio optimisation methodologies.
- Intent on entering the investment management sector, bringing forward a keen analytical mindset nurtured through a Mathematics degree, dedication to mastering financial modelling and portfolio analysis, and an eagerness to contribute to successful investment strategies from the ground up.
- Aiming to utilise a fresh perspective gained from a successful career in management consulting to make a significant impact in investment management, utilising exceptional problem-solving abilities, a strong client-centric approach, and a newfound dedication to acquiring investment expertise.
Best practices for writing your investment manager CV experience section
If your profile matches the job requirements, the CV experience is the section which recruiters will spend the most time studying. Within your experience bullets, include not merely your career history, but, rather, your skills and outcomes from each individual role. Your best experience section should promote your profile by:
- including specific details and hard numbers as proof of your past success;
- listing your experience in the functional-based or hybrid format (by focusing on the skills), if you happen to have less professional, relevant expertise;
- showcasing your growth by organising your roles, starting with the latest and (hopefully) most senior one;
- staring off each experience bullet with a verb, following up with skills that match the job description, and the outcomes of your responsibility.
Add keywords from the job advert in your experience section, like the professional CV examples:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Managed a diversified portfolio of equities, fixed income, and alternative investments, achieving a track record of 15% annualised returns over five years, demonstrating strong market acumen and risk management skills.
- Led a team of analysts in performing in-depth market research and due diligence for potential investment opportunities, resulting in an increase of investment performance by 20% year-on-year.
- Implemented innovative quantitative analysis techniques to drive investment strategy decisions, contributing to a 30% growth in client assets under management (AUM) in the first two years.
- Effectively communicated investment rationales and market outlooks to high-net-worth clients, ensuring portfolio alignment with their financial goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with institutional clients by consistently exceeding benchmark portfolio returns and providing insightful market commentary.
- Regularly reviewed and rebalanced client portfolios to optimise asset allocation, resulting in outperformance of peer group funds and enhanced client satisfaction.
- Initiated and led the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) integration processes into the firm's investment strategies, demonstrating commitment to responsible investing.
- Utilised advanced financial modelling to forecast economic trends and guide the strategic positioning of portfolios, notably steering clients clear of downturns during volatile market periods.
- Authored a monthly investment newsletter that shared unique perspectives on global financial markets, reinforcing the firm's thought leadership and contributing to business development efforts.
- Spearheaded the diversification of investment portfolio for high-net-worth individuals, achieving a 20% increase in portfolio returns within the first year.
- Implemented advanced risk management strategies that decreased portfolio volatility by 15% whilst maintaining projected growth targets.
- Negotiated and secured preferential terms with new investment partners, leading to the successful launch of a private equity fund focused on technology startups.
- Managed a portfolio of £500 million in assets, consistently outperforming the benchmark index by 5% each year.
- Developed a comprehensive ESG investment framework which channelled over £75 million into sustainable investments.
- Led a team of analysts and junior managers, cultivating a results-driven culture that contributed to a 25% departmental efficiency increase.
- Initiated and led a cross-departmental project that utilised big data analytics to inform investment decisions, improving predictive accuracy by 30%.
- Orchestrated the successful acquisition and integration of a competitor’s asset portfolio, boosting the firm’s market share by 10%.
- Regularly conducted investment seminars and workshops for clients, which significantly improved client retention rates and attracted new business.
- Optimised the global investment strategy by identifying emerging markets, leading to a robust international portfolio expansion.
- Pioneered the use of AI-driven financial models, enhancing forecasting capabilities which brought about a 12% efficiency gain in asset allocation.
- Cultivated strategic partnerships with fintech companies to co-develop new investment platforms and tools, reducing the average transaction cost by 20% and increasing user engagement.
- Developed a multi-asset investment strategy that broadened the clientele reach and increased managed assets by £200 million.
- Conducted thorough due diligence for potential investments, resulting in the identification and mitigation of high-risk propositions.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement among junior managers through mentorship, leading to a 35% uplift in their performance metrics.
- Designed an algorithmic trading system that increased trade execution speed by 50%, leading to a more responsive investment strategy alignment with market changes.
- Successfully managed a commodities investment portfolio which outstripped sector averages by over 8% annually.
- Initiated a series of investor education programmes that enhanced the company’s brand as an industry thought leader and expanded the client base by 20%.
- Led the transition to a more agile investment decision-making process, which increased reaction capability to market shifts and improved overall portfolio performance by 18%.
- Drove the digitisation of client reporting processes, enhancing report accuracy and reducing production time by over 40%.
- Facilitated the successful negotiation of a series of equity investments that delivered a consistent yield over the 4-year growth period.
- Oversee the strategic investment planning for the firm’s largest institutional clients, with a combined asset value exceeding £1 billion.
- Implemented a sector rotation strategy that dynamically adapts to cyclical economic factors, delivering a 13% improvement in year-on-year performance.
- Directed the due diligence process for the firm’s M&A activities, resulting in three strategic acquisitions that expanded service offerings and clientele.
How to ensure your investment manager CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your investment manager CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your investment manager CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your investment manager CV:
Portfolio Management
Financial Analysis
Risk Management
Equity Research
Quantitative Analysis
Asset Allocation
Derivatives Knowledge
Investment Strategies Development
Compliance and Regulations Understanding
Market Trends Analysis
Decision Making
Communication
Leadership
Problem-Solving
Time Management
Adaptability
Attention to Detail
Teamwork
Negotiation
Client Relationship Management
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your investment manager CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your investment manager CV:
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional investment manager CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
